Omar Khayyam, The Rubaiyat (2)

Μια και τα τετράστιχα του Πέρση ποιητή, μαθηματικού και αστρονόμου του 11ου μ.Χ. αιώνα, Οmar Khayyam, άρεσαν τόσο πολύ στα κορίτσια της παρέας, συνεχίζω με μερικά ακόμη και τους τα αφιερώνω.

And as the Cock crew, those who stood before
The Tavern shouted - "Open then the Door!
You know how little while we have to stay,
And, once departed, may return no more".

For some we loved, the loveliest and the best
That from his Vintage rolling Time hath prest,
Have drunk their Cup a Round or two before,
And one by one crept silently to Rest.

With them the Seed of Wisdom did I sow,
And with mine own hand wrought to make it grow
And this was all the Harvest that I reap'd -
"I come like Water, and like Wind I go".

Strange, is it not? that of the myriads who
Before us pass'd the door of Darkness through,
Not one returns to tell us of the Road,
Which to discover we must travel too.

We are no other than a moving row
Of Magic Shadow-shapes that come and go
Round with the Sun-illumin'd Lantern held
In midnight by the Master of the Show;